Isaac Hayden is adamant he will be able to “hack it” at Premier League level - describing the top flight as the “pinnacle” for any professional footballer.

The midfielder helped lift the Championship title during his first season with Newcastle United, securing back-to-back promotions following his play-off final success with Hull City the previous year.

Hayden spent eight years at Arsenal and progressed through the club’s Academy, but never made a top-flight appearance for the club.

After serving his apprenticeship in the Championship with Hull and then Newcastle - he has played 50 league games now - the England Under-21 international is determined to prove he belongs in the Premier League with the Magpies.

“That’s the pinnacle, that’s where everybody wants to play,” Hayden said of the Premier League.

“All the best players in the world want to come to the Premier League and test themselves against the best players.

“I know I have got improving to do in certain aspects of my game – I have spoken to the manager about that – but he’s got full confidence in me, I have got full confidence in myself that come next season, especially in pre-season, my body will be 100-per-cent fit, ready and raring to go and improve.

Rafa Benitez recruited Hayden last summer in order to offer greater technical proficiency, as well as added steel, to his midfield.

During the final game of the season in which he was fielded as a makeshift centre-back, Hayden suffered a blow to the head and was forced off due to concussion protocols, so he is currently resting up following a gruelling Championship campaign.